Preparation:
In a large bowl, knead together 2 generous cups flour with
the yeast, sugar and a little. Form a smooth
dough. (If using active dry yeast, follow instructions.) Cover
bowl with cloth and allow to rest in a warm
place until the dough has doubled in volume. Work
in the remaining flour, adding water as
needed to form a workable dough. Cover
bowl and allow dough to rise again, this time for
about 1 1/2 hours, until no bubbles form on the
surface. Heat plenty of oil in a deep frying pan.
Using a spoon, scoop out little balls of dough and
drop gently into the boiling oil. Fry the dough
balls until they are crisp and golden brown, then
remove
from oil with a ladle and drain on towels. Arrange on a serving dish,
top with
plenty of honey, and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Traveling in Greece this March? If you're there on
the 25th, you will see the streets filled with
parades and celebrations or all kinds.
Churches celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation,
and in Athens there are military parades, as well as anti-war demonstrations
which keep
the streets blocked for hours.

History of Greek Independence Day
In 1821, Greeks vigorously rose up against the
oppressive Ottoman Empire which had occupied Greece
for nearly four hundred years, and embarked on the
ultimately successful war of independence. Bishop Germanos of Patras boldly raised the Greek flag at
the monastery of Agia Lavras, inciting the
Peloponnese to rise against the oppressors.

The Feast of the Annunciation
On this day in the Orthodox calendar, the archangel
Gabriel appeared to the maiden Mary and announced
the news: she was pregnant with the divine child.
Bishop Germanos chose this day to deliver a
different but not unrelated message: a new spirit
was about to be born in Greece. The churches
celebrate the Festival of the Annunciation with
pomp, ceremony, and joy.

Greek Independence Day is also celebrated by many of
the Greeks of the diaspora, and large parades are
becoming more common in United States cities where
Greeks have made their homes, including Boston and
New York City. Each year, the U.S. President marks
Greek Independence Day with a proclamation reminding
citizens of the contributions of Greece to
democracy, and of the ongoing contributions of
expatriate Greeks in their new communities
throughout the world.

This 1st walk takes
the longest time and is the most important in terms
of ancient history and art. The visitor should start
early in the morning, especially during the summer.
Another option, somewhat more costly, is to complete
this walk in two installments on separate days.

This was the cultural center of ancient Athens,
and the first example, whether in Greece or the
world, of a complex of buildings dedicated to
performances of the arts.
- Theater of Dionysus:
The cradle of tragedy and comedy, this first theater
of the Western world was built on the grounds of the
sanctuary of Dionysus.
- Odeion of Perikles:
Built in the 5th century BC with the masts of the
Persian ships (booty from the Battle of Salamis in
480 BC), and used by the Athenians for performances
of music.
- Asclepion Ruins: Temple built in 420 BC, dedicated to Asclepios, the god of medicine, and was used as a
sanctuary, a clinic, and a Medical School.
- Hippolytus' tomb
- Archaic fountain
- Sanctuaries to Earth Kourotrofos, Demetra-Chloe, Aphrodite Pandemos,
and Eumenes' Stoa.
- Odeion of Herodes
Atticus: Building adjacent to Eumenes' Stoa;
built in 160-1 AD by Herodes, son of Atticus, in
memory of his wife Regilla. Seats 5,000 and
still hosts musical and theatrical performances...

(2) THE ACROPOLIS:
The Sacred Rock of the Atheniansns
- Propylaea: One
of the masterpieces of classical architecture, built
in 437-432 BC by the architect Mnesicles,
who designed an entrance of no less
magnificence than that of temples and other
monuments on the Sacred Rock...
- Temple of Athena
Nike: A small, elegant, Ionian, amphiprostyle
temple, built by the architect Callicrates in
426-421, on an earlier tower of the Mycenaean
walls...
- Temple of Brauronian Artemis: Situated to the
southeast of the Propylaea, and used for the cult of goddess Artemis, a cult
that originated from Brauron, homeland of
Peisistratus, in the mid 6th century BC. Today only
traces of its foundations remain.
- Chalkotheke:
East of the Temple of Brauronian Artemis lies just
the base of a lengthy structure that dates from the
5 " century BC, which is believed to have been the
Chalkotheke, used for storing precious votive gifts,
mostly made of metal.
- Erechtheion: This temple, begun in Ionian
style in 421 BC, dominates the north side of the
Sacred Rock. It is complex and elaborate in its
structure, and equally complex in its symbolism...
- Archaic
temple: Between the Erechtheion and the Parthenon, you can see the ruins
of this archaic temple, built in the 6th century BC
and dedicated to Athena Polias (Athena guardian of
the City)...
-
Arrheforio:
The altar of Athena, and the
inscription of the earth, followed by the sanctuary
to Zeus Polieus and the temple of Rome and Augustus
(27 BC).
- Parthenon: A
"Public Dedication", offered by the Athenians to
their patron goddess Athena Parthenos (Athena the
Virgin), for the city's salvation and Athenian
victories in the Persian Wars as part of Pericles
great construction program. Built between 447 and
438 BC...
- Acropolis Museum:
Situated where the Sanctuary of Pandion once stood.
Many of the objects on display had been buried in
the earth after the Persians captured the Acropolis
in 480 BC, hence traces of the original colors
remain. (A listing of many brilliant works of art
located there are listed in the full
page of text - click here to read.)

(3) PERIPATOS: The Northern Slope of the Acropolis- Clepsydra: On the west side of the Acropolis,
and inside a cave, lies the spring Clepsydra. Its
earlier name was Empedho, but it was changed to
Clepsydra, (which means "water clock")...
- Cave shine of
Apollo: Near the Clepsydra, we find a cave that
once housed the Shrine of Apollo. After their
appointment, the nine archons (senior officials) of
Athens, took a first oath...
- Cave of Zeus
Astrapeos (Zeus, bearer of lightning): Next to
the cave of Apollo, opens a second equally imposing
cave dedicated to Zeus. The father of gods and
humans was worshipped as "Olympios" (of Olympus), "Astrapeos",
or "Keravnios" (bearer of thunder)...
- Cave of Pan: Nearby and a little to the
east, there is another small cave dedicated to Pan,
god of forests and shepherds. The cult of Pan came
late to Athens, that is after the victory at...
- Mycenaean Fountain
(Cave of Ersi): Further to the east there is an
impressive cave, until recently believed to have
been dedicated to Aglauros, daughter of Cecrops...

(4) THE ACROPOLIS'
EASTERN SLOPE- Cave of Agraulos:
By pure chance, an inscription was found in front of
the cave on the east slope, a
resolution of the Athenian popular assembly that
dates from 247 BC, when Polyeuctus' was...
- Agraulos, daughter of
Cecrops (statue): A beloved Athenian princess who later
became an important deity. 18-year-old Athenians
stood in front of her imposing sanctuary...
- Two routes for the visitor who wishes to follow the Peripatos route down to the city...

(5) LYSICRATES'
MONUMENT: The only choregic monument that
remains intact today, and acts as an emblem for the
whole Plaka district. It was built by the choregos
(sponsor) Lysicrates (334 BC) in a style resembling
the Corinthian order...

(6) ELLINIKI ETAIRIAOn 28 Tripodon St lies the neoclassical
building that houses Elliniki Etairia - the Hellenic
Society for the Protection of the Environment and
the Cultural Heritage. It was built during King
Otho's reign (1833-1862) and some decorative ceiling
paintings survive...

Excerpt from: "Heritage Walks in Athens"
by the Municipality of Athens Cultural
Organization, and by the Elliniki Etairia Hellenic Society
for the Protection of the Environment and
the Cultural Heritage

*All
Greek Classics are in PAL / Zone 2 format (Europe).
To view them in the US or
Canada you will need a multi-region DVD player or a
computer with DVD player. Greekshops.com is currently
offering a multi-region DVD player at the amazing
price of 69.95! [click
here for details]

GEOGRAPHY: 10
nautical miles southwest of Samos is Ikaria, another of
the large islands of the eastern Aegean. It covers an
area of 255 sq. km., has 102 km. of coastline and 7,559
inhabitants. lkaria and Phournoi belong administratively
to the Prefecture of Samos. There are car and passenger
ferries from Piraeus, 114 nautical miles away (daily in
the summer), and connections with Samos, Paros and
(again in the summer) Syros and Phournoi The boat to the
far-flung islands on the Kavala - Piraeus route (once a
week) links Ikaria with Kavala, the Dodecanese, Crete
and the Cyclades. There is also a local service to
Phournoi. The island's main town and chief harbor is
Aghios Kirykos. Essentially a mountainous island
(highest peak Aitheras, 1040 m. a.s.l.) with rocky
coastline, Ikaria is famous for its numerous radioactive
therapeutic springs. Apart from a few outcrops of
marble, the island is mainly of schistose formations. In
recent years its popularity with visitors has grown and
it is an excellent spot for quiet, family holidays, even
though tourist facilities are still under-developed. The
climate is mild but blustery, since strong southeast
winds blow in the winter and northerlies in the summer.
The island's villages ca island's towns and villages are
located on tracts of flat land along the coast, with a
few settlements in the mountains.
HISTORY: Ikaria assumed several names in
antiquity: Makris, Doliche, Ichthyoessa, Ikaros, Ikaria.
It was here, so myth relates, that Ikaros fell to his
death, which is why the surrounding sea is called the
Ikarian. It is also claimed as the birthplace of
Dionysos. In the middle of the 8th century BC, or
thereabouts, Ionian colonizers from the Asia Minor
littoral settled here. It was captured by the Medes
during the Persian Wars and afterwards became a member
of the Athenian League. Ikaria took part in the
Peloponnesian War as an ally of Athens. We have little
information on the island's fate from the 4th century BC
onwards. In Byzantine times it belonged to the Thema of
the Aegean and those who provoked the emperor's
displeasure were banished there. In 1191 it was ceded to
the Venetians and ruled by a succession of noble
families (Maonesi, Giustiniani) until it was taken by
the Turks in 1567. Ikaria was finally liberated and
incorporated in the Greek state in 1912.

SIGHTS-MONUMENTS: Aghios Kirykos, the island's
capital, is built on its southeast side, facing Patmos.
Churches include the (metropolis) and that dedicated to
St. Nicolas. A small archaeological collection is housed
in the Secondary school, as well as a folklore
collection of exhibits associated with the island's
historic past. About 1 km. to the east of the capital is
the spa Therma with its radioactive springs. Remains of
ancient baths have been found here and, according to
inscriptions, the region was known as Asklepeion. A
short distance to the north of the town are the ruins of
the ancient city of Drakano (nowadays Fanari); a
Hellenistic tower (3rd century BC) and section of the
fortification wall are preserved. 38 km. northwest of
Aghios Kirykos, is the second port of Ikaria, Evdilos,
near the village of Kampos (40 km.) are remains of the
other important ancient city, Oinoe. Finds from here are
exhibited in a small archaeological collection at Kampos.
Some 2.5 km. west of here the Byzantines built a new
city, called Doliche, a name which, like Palatia, held
sway on account of the impressive Byzantine edifices in
which the exiled lived. Other interesting monuments
here-about include the Byzantine church of St. Irene,
while 3 km. further south stands the 10th century
Byzantine castle of Nikaria.

At Armenistis,
51 km. northwest of Aghios Kirkos, graves of the 5th
century BC have been unearthed, 4th century BC funerary
stelae and , northwest of the church of St. Charalambos,
the foundation courses of the defensive wall. Near the
sea at Na, west of Armenistis, the remnants of the
temple of Tauropolos Artemis are visible, from which
significant finds dating from the 7th-5th century BC
have been recovered. The villages of the Mesaria region
Akamantra, Dafni, Kosoikia, Petroupoli look out to sea.
The southwest side of the island, particularly the
villages of Raches, Langada and Karkinagri, has its own
charm. All the island's villages can be reached by bus
and there is also a local caique service from Aghios
Kirykos to the south coast. Beaches for swimming are
those around Aghios, Kirykos, Evdilos, Yaliskari, and
Armenistis. (Here the sea deepens suddenly). The best
beaches are at Mesakte and Livadi. One can go by caique
to Therma, Fanari and Karkinagri and even to the
neighbouring islands of Phournoi and Thymaina where
there are other delightful beaches and secluded coves.

PHOURNOI:
Between Ikaria, Samos and Patmos is a
cluster of tiny islands: Phournoi (or Korsoi), Aghios
Minas and Thymaina, all of which belong to the
Prefecture of Samos. Phournoi, the largest of these, is
30 sq. km. in area, has 126 km. of coastline and 1,203
inhabitants. It is 9 nautical miles from Samos with
which there is a local caique service. Phournoi has been
inhabited since antiquity and in the Byzantine era was a
haven for pirates. Its population is mainly involved in
fishing. Though there is no road network, the lovely
beaches and picturesque bays make it a pleasant place
for those seeking holidays "away from it all".

Icons
depicting the celebrated Saint, make great gifts for
namedays, as do our custom-made Greek name mugs.
Shop among our great collection of gift ideas at our
store. We also have a great selection of greeting cards
for birthdays, holidays, namedays and
special occasions.

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